The IML is pleased to congratulate three students on winning grants this fall.

Nathanael Kumar (BM Applied Music, BM Composition, BA Computer Science) won an AMP Up grant to support his community engagement work for his Senior Recital. Nathanael is performing a concert of Scandinavian selections in collaboration with Rochester’s Scandinavian Heritage Society. His senior recital is on November 16th at 8:30 PM in Kilbourn Hall.

Nathanael Kumar has been creating for as long as he can remember. After a decade spent writing fantasy stories, humming inscrutable tunes, and theorizing new inventions, he found a permanent creative home in classical music in the sixth grade, when he discovered a miniature tuba called the “euphonium”. In the ensuing years, he fell in love with soloing, composition, and the violin standard repertoire. Now, as a full-time music student, he leads a double life as a euphonist and composer. 

As a soloist, Nathanael has performed with the Houston Symphonic Band and won first place at the 2025 Falcone Festival competition. In his recitals, he champions new and unusual euphonium repertoire, and has a penchant for transcriptions (most recently: the violin concerti of Barber and Sibelius). 

As a composer of new music, Nathanael strives to balance technical innovation with accessibility for listeners. In his latest work, a Chaconne for trumpet-trombone quartet, he imparts a familiar formula with modern harmonies fit for a contemporary church prelude. 

In addition to his academic studies, Nathanael is currently working towards a certificate in arts leadership. As part of this work, he’s completed internships in music admissions and summer-festival administration. 

He currently studies with Justin Benavidez and Elizabeth Ogonek at the Eastman School of Music. Past euphonium teachers include Mark Kellogg, Matthew Murchison, and Steven Needham. In composition, Nathanael has also studied with Daniel Pesca, Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez, Tom Schneller, and David Liptak. 

Tubist Connor Higley (DMA) won an IML Mentorship Grant for his development of a novel tuba ergonomics stand. Connor notes “My goal is to create an ergonomic device that promotes ease and efficiency for all tuba players. I want to help tuba players to make playing their instruments a more enjoyable experience while also reducing their risk of injury. I hope that this device will make the tuba a more accessible instrument for people of a wider range of body types and statures as well. My goal is ultimately to make the tuba into a comfortable instrument for anyone to play, regardless of their physical characteristics. It is my hope that this will make the tuba a more inviting instrument to those who would otherwise be intimidated by its large size. Through a novel system of height adjustability, my device will ensure that every tuba player finds the perfect match between body and instrument, with no compromises required.”

Originally from Michigan, Connor Higley is a tuba player and doctoral student at the Eastman School of Music. Previously, he attended the Yale School of Music, where he completed his Master of Music degree in tuba performance in 2024, and also graduated from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor in 2021, with undergraduate degrees in economics and tuba performance. Connor currently works as the Musicians’ Health and Wellness Intern for the University of Rochester Health Service. His experience with a performance-related injury sparked his passion for musicians’ health research and evidence-based music pedagogy. Connor is currently involved in multiple wellness initiatives, with the goal of facilitating new research into ergonomic solutions and injury prevention for musicians of all levels.

Ted Ekstrand, Addie Canning, and their brass quintet, QuinTed, won an IML Mentorship Grant for their commission of a new work for brass quintet. This multi-movement work will be written by Nathanael Kumar on the topic of space, and be premiered by QuinTed at a community engagement concert in April at the Rochester Museum and Science Center’s Planetarium.

QuinTed has performed together for the past four years while the founding members have been pursuing their undergraduate degrees at Eastman. The ensemble has performed numerous community engagement concerts across Rochester as part of Eastman’s Music for All program. Ted and Addie are additionally pursuing a Certificate of Achievement in Chamber Music.

The Institute for Music Leadership creates career and leadership development opportunities for musicians on and off the stage. The AMP Up Grant supports student projects that engage our University and Rochester communities and connect with local individuals, groups, and organizations in support of on campus performances. The IML Mentorship Grant provides matriculated ESM students with opportunities to receive funding and mentorship to encourage new thinking and the development of innovative ideas in music. Visit this page to learn more about IML grants and funding.